Uncharted Territory: Hoppy Oak-Aged Pilsner
Magnify Brewing Company

This was one of Magnify's beers that I had in my stash that somehow got lost in the back of everything, as I've been going through them in the order that they were brewed. I'm not a fan of German Pilsners and although this one wasn't bad, it almost tasted like an IPL more than anything else. The oak grew on me too much and the woodiness of it combined with the Pilsner malt overcame anything else that could have been considered as a positive attribute.

To be fair, this did pour like a German Pilsner, in that it was golden, somewhat radiant, and a bit hazy when held up to the light. Plenty of head topped this off although it receded quickly and the lacing left behind was quite voluminous from the collar on down the side of my pint glass. Oak, Pilsner malt, lemon, and dry cheese filled the nose as all of those came through in the taste. However, the woody undertone just became too strong for me as this felt a bit like a Wild Ale at times. Lots of grass, dry white wine, and grape came through as this warmed up but at the same time, a beer like this shouldn't need a chaser of water to get it down! The aftertaste was like that of a Kolsch, down to the amount of booze that was present in this...

That's not to say that this was a session beer. Sure, you'd have to drink a ton of these to get wasted but given how odd the flavor was, I don't think that this would be possible. Indeed, this was uncharted territory but as Socrates might say, the unexamined beer is not worth drinking. This could fall under that unless you're looking for a German Pilsner that stood out from the pack. Worth a go once for something different but if I had a preference, I'd prefer a version that was not fermented in oak...

L - pours a crispy dull straw yellow. Opaque and a touch milky. Pop rocks-sounding head that dissipates as expected.

S - lemondrop candy hoppiness up front. Clashes with classic German pilsner bready sweetness.

T - a strange fruity metallic grassiness. More lemon candy and some rindy lime. Lupulin earthiness. Distinctly Magnify. Wood chips and papaya. Mild Belgian spice.

F - definitely hops in here. Grainy and gritty, leaving a mealy feel in the mouth. "Buzzing" carbonation with focus.

O - worthy of the "uncharted territory" moniker, that's for sure. Tastes like a forest with that German pilsner lagging behind, imparting spice and bread.

 

 

 

 

Canned 8/17/2017. Poured into pilsener glass. It pours a hazy, golden straw color with a thin milk-white head and lacing. The nose is lemon forward with an oaky smell that was initially faint but grew stronger as the glass warmed. The taste is interesting in that it opens with a lot of fruit, mostly lemon but finishes with a big dose of hoppy bitterness. As with the smell, the oak becomes more prevalent as the glass warms. It is tart, tangy, but quite bitter. It drinks more like an IPA than a pilsner. This is a light, crisp beer with moderate, pleasing carbonation, and at only 5.2% ABV you can drink a couple of these without feeling it. Overall, it's a really nice summer beer. IPA fans will find it a nice bridge to pilsener style.